Calcutta high court judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay quits, says will join BJP tomorrow

KOLKATA: Calcutta high court judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay resigned on Tuesday and announced his intention to join BJP on Thursday, stating that he had been in touch with the party for a week and would be with them “for now”, regardless of whether he receives a ticket to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections or not.



Gangopadhyay praised PM Modi, describing him as “hardworking and a very good man” and striving for the country’s progress. “I approached BJP and BJP, too, approached me... That’s why I did not adjudicate any case. I decided over this period to join BJP. I think it is the only party that can fight Trinamool here,” he said at a press conference in his Kolkata home, two hours after posting his resignation to President Droupadi Murmu. “The party will decide whether I contest this election.”

Gangopadhyay accused Trinamool of corruption, labelling it a “drama party” and dismissing CM Mamata Banerjee as “just another politician”. “Trinamool would not be there by 2026. Just two more arrests are needed,” he said.

He faced immediate political scrutiny, with Trinamool seizing on his statement about being in touch with BJP while serving as a judge. “A sitting Calcutta HC judge says he and BJP were in touch when he was passing judicial orders and making observations in the courtroom. I leave the rest to the people to decide,” Trinamool general secretary Abhishek Banerjee said.

Trinamool also ridiculed Gangopadhyay’s “shift from Marx to Modi” and accused him of using “corruption” as a ruse for his “political ambitions”.

BJP functionaries told TOI that negotiations were on with the former judge about a possible ticket from Tamluk LS seat in East Midnapore — leader of opposition Suvendu Adhikari’s home district.

Regarding his choice of party, Gangopadhyay dismissed CPM due to religious reasons and criticised Congress for dynastic politics. “I believe in God, I am religious. So, CPM is out of the question… There are many able and qualified leaders (in Congress) like Jairam Ramesh who do not get any key role in the party, though people like Rahul Gandhi enjoy all the power without doing anything,” he said.

The former judge’s defence of BJP MLA Adhikari, who was earlier with Trinamool, and his criticism of the party escalated tensions. The former judge said the Narada tapes episode was a “conspiracy”, referencing the 2016 videos that showed various politicians, including Adhikari, accepting wads of cash during a sting operation.

“Was there money in that envelope? Who saw it?” he asked. “It was a conspiracy hatched by a Trinamool leader to implicate seniors of his own party.” When asked to name the Trinamool leader, he shot back: “Am I abusing anyone? I consider his name itself to be a slang (sic).”

Gangopadhyay’s fusillade prompted Trinamool seniors to say their “bias” charge against him when he was a judge stood vindicated. “How could a person with so much venom and hatred pass neutral orders?” Trinamool’s LS chief whip and senior advocate Kalyan Banerjee asked.

Don't miss the yearly horoscope 2025 and Chinese horoscope 2025 for Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig zodiac signs. Spread love this holiday season with these Happy New Year wishes, messages, and quotes.